[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Pages 20719-20720]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                           MONGOLIA AND BURMA

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, as elected representatives, we often 
get correspondence from people--from our respective States and 
elsewhere--expressing views and opinions on a whole range of issues.
  Occasionally, a letter comes in that deserves to be shared with the 
entire Senate. I recently received such a letter from Mongolian Prime 
Minister Elbegdorj Tsakhia, who took power after democratic elections 
in that country earlier this year.
  While some may not pay much attention to Mongolia--it is literally 
half a world away--it deserves America's thanks and praise. That 
country serves to remind us that the fundamental pillars upon which our 
democracy is constructed--individual rights, freedom of the press and 
religious tolerance--are not Western ideals but universal rights. As 
Prime Minister Elbegdorj points out, Mongolia enjoys a tradition of 
democracy and recognizes that it shares a responsibility to support 
freedom beyond its borders.
  Today I want to personally thank Prime Minister Elbegdorj and the 
people of Mongolia for their country's contributions to the War on 
Terrorism in Iraq and for their steadfast support of democracy in 
Asia--and in Burma, in particular. Brave Mongolian soldiers serving in 
Iraq, and those who champion the cause of democracy closer to home, are 
a tribute to their country.
  While I will include the text of the Prime Minister's letter in the 
Record following my remarks, I want to read one line that rings true:

       Having lived under, and fought against, the tyranny of 
     Communism I can assure you of one thing: that no 
     dictatorship, no military regime, no authoritarian government 
     can stand against the collective will of a people determined 
     to be free.

  Amen, Mr. Prime Minister.
  I encourage you to do all you can to further strengthen democracy in 
your own country, and to continue to aggressively support Daw Aung San 
Suu Kyi and the people of Burma in their struggle for freedom.
  I ask unanimous consent to print the letter in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:


[[Page 20720]]




                                   Prime Minister of Mongolia,

                                               September 16, 2004.
     Hon. Mitch McConnell,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator McConnell: On August 20, 2004 I was sworn in 
     as Mongolia's new Prime Minister. This election has seen 
     another peaceful transfer of political power in my country. 
     It represents Mongolians' continuing commitment to democracy 
     and human rights.
       I have lived in the U.S. for the past several years and 
     during that time I earned degrees at the University of 
     Colorado and Harvard. I also served as a consultant to Radio 
     Free Asia in Washington, D.C. During my time in the U.S., I 
     followed your actions on promoting democracy and human rights 
     in Asia--in particular, Burma. I, like you, believe that Aung 
     San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy is the 
     legitimate representative of the Burmese people. The military 
     junta that is ruling Burma can only maintain their power 
     through barbaric acts of terror to instill fear in the 
     people.
       Mongolia faces many serious economic and social challenges. 
     After our July elections, our parliament, like your Senate, 
     is a divided chamber. The Mongolian people have made their 
     electoral choices and now it is up to my government to make 
     it work. I believe the true test of any democracy is not just 
     the institutionalization of a process and policies that 
     protect individual liberties, freedom of speech, and 
     religious tolerance at home. It is how those values are 
     shared abroad. There can be no excuse made for Burma's 
     military junta. The Burmese people had an election and chose 
     to embrace freedom and democracy. I believe each country that 
     shares our values must take steps to help achieve the results 
     of the 1990 elections. I look forward to engaging in this 
     effort.
       Despite the distance that separates our countries, our 
     shared values bring us close together. As you read this 
     letter, U.S. and Mongolian soldiers stand shoulder-to-
     shoulder helping to build peace and stability in a new Iraq.
       Thank you for your work to support democracy in Burma and 
     throughout Asia. Having lived under, and fought against, the 
     tyranny of Communism I can assure you of one thing: that no 
     dictatorship, no military regime, no authoritarian government 
     can stand against the collective will of a people determined 
     to be free.
           Sincerely,
     Elbegdorj Tsakhia.

                          ____________________